The Bacheldor family were at supper when the callers arrived. Abner himself opened the door and he looked rather embarrassed when he saw the pair on the steps. Captain Shad did not wait for an invitation to enter; he walked in and Mary-'Gusta followed him.
“Now then, Ab,” said the Captain, briskly, “what's this about our cat stealin' your chickens?”
Mr. Bacheldor and Con, separately and together, burst into a tirade of invective against the offending David.
“That's all right, that's all right,” broke in the Captain, crisply. “If that cat stole your chicken it ought to be shot. But are you sure of the cat? Do you know ours did it? This girl here says 'twasn't ours at all.”
“I know a dum sight better,” began Abner, savagely. But this time it was Mary-'Gusta who interrupted.
“Cap'n Gould,” she said, “please ask him what time it was yesterday afternoon when he saw the cat run off with the chicken.”
Bacheldor did not wait to be asked.
“'Twas quarter-past four yesterday afternoon,” he declared. “I know the time.”
“I don't see what the time's got to do with it,” put in Shadrach.
“But it's got everything to do with it,” urged Mary-'Gusta. “Honest truly it has.”